But those plants are expected to be a major focus of the president’s remarks, given that they account for 40 percent of carbon emissions.

“I think his view reflects reality,” Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Monday in unusually blunt remarks. “We’ve seen Congress attempt to deal with this issue and fail to, and the president’s made clear that he will act where he can — with Congress where possible — but where he can on this and a range of issues.”

While the White House would not talk specifics Monday, Obama is expected to announce that he is directing the Environmental Protection Agency to draft rules to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. He’s also expected to say that he will handle a host of other climate-related issues across the government using regulatory and other powers, regardless of whether Congress approves.

Carney did mention that the White House would be happy if Congress were willing to take on climate change, but no one expects much on that front before the midterm elections.

“If there is a sign that Congress has the will to take up matters related to reducing carbon pollution and — and doing other things to positively affect the development of clean energy ... or reducing the impacts of climate change on the American people, then we will obviously be more than happy to engage with Congress and we’ll do that,” Carney said. “But the president will — as he did in his first term — take the actions that he can, using his authority, to address this challenge.”

Carney noted the administration’s fuel efficiency standards in Obama’s first term as an example of something that did not require congressional action.

But there is already substantial pushback on any new climate efforts on Capitol Hill, and House Republicans have passed numerous measures in the past few years aimed at reducing regulations in the name of boosting American energy production.